Message-displaying device



' Ott. 28, 1930. F. ZEALAND /f/ 1,780,054

MESSAGE DISPLAYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1926 2 Sheets-5heet l G. F. ZEALAND 1,780,054

MESSAGE DISPLAYING DEVICE Filed DSC. 24; 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 28, 1930.

Patented Oct. 2s, 1930 miren STATES marisa ArENr oFlicE.; l

GEORGE F. LzEaLnNnf-or rnrnannnriara, PnNNsYLvaNIa, asssNoR 0F FoR'rY-NINE oNE-HUNnnnnTHs fro ,SAMUEL W. ranas, oF rHILADELPHrA, PENNSYLVANIA i MESSAGE-DISPLAYING DEVICE Applicatonled December 24,v 1926. V.Serial No. 156,939.

p The principal object of my invention is to provide a kdevice Vfor displaying messages in public places, such as railroad stations, hotel lobbies, theatre lobbies,'etc., vand which is ac cessible for use bythe general public.

As an illust-ration .of the utility of the device, should two parties have amutual appointment to meet at a railroad station in order tovboar'd a certain train, and one of the A partiesshould failto keep the appointment, theI other party upon arrival at the railroad station could leave a message to be read by .the tardy one. `Such message could be addressed to the party who had failed to keep *J the appointment; and state that thel other party hadboardedthe ktrain andwould meet the second party at their common point of destination.

The device `is adapted tobe operated by a coin being inserted in acoin slot located 'in the face of the device and subsequent manipulation ofjaeontrol lever-.which opens a door located in the front- Wallv of the device. The message can then be written ona .carldprovidedfor the purpose, and the door of the device thereafter closed, and automatically locked, so that the message thereafter cannot be tampered.withr ,The device is soconstructedthata coin having been placed yin the` coin vslot thereof and the operatingV lever snbseqiiently man-ipulated eifectsthe sealing of the coin Aslot in f such a manner that no additional coin can be placed therein, until such time as an author-y ized attendant removes the firstgcoin, `clears rthe device of the message which had been previously placed therein;` and by so vdoing the deviceis automatically resettofreceive another message. i

The detailed construct-ion of my-invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

.Fglas and is rigidly secured therein.

structure constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention;

ig. 2 is a sectional planl viewtaken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; A

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionalelevation Ataken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2:

Fig. 4s is a sectional elevation takenalong the line 4 4; of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are Ldetached perspective views of certain details of 'the invention;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a bankof the devices, such as would be placedin public places; and

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation illustrating the means of loclingthey devices of the entire bank, to prevent the removal of inserted coins by other than the authorizedk attendant.

My device comprises a box-like structure 1, constructed in any suitable manner, and having a door 2hinged in the front wall of the 1.. The kdoor 2 is provided with a suitable -transparent'panel 8, through which ia message display card 4f is visible. The card mounted in a cavity 13 formed between rigid Y transverse partitions 14 and 15 in the box 1.

The pivot pin 16 yof the segmental lockingk plate 12 extends between the said partitions The partition 14 is provided with an arcuate slot 17 through ywhich the lateral flange 11 ofthe locking plate 12 extends, and is of such proportions asto permit a limited oscillatorymovement of thel plate 12 and its flange 11. The flange 11 is provided-,with an opening VV19.fintermediate its ends for puri poses hereinafterdescribed. afperseectwe new etVv a .Smale The segmental locking plate l12 vis provided with an arcuate slot 20, through which and the partitions 14 and 15 a limiting pin 21 extends. A spring 22 is coiled around the pivot pin 16, and has one arm 23 engaging one part of the lateral flange 11 of the segmental locking plate 12, and its other arm 24 secured to a pin 25 v.which extends laterally from the partition 14. The spring 22 normally maintains the segmental locking plate 12 in the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

A coin slot 26 is formed in the upper portion ofthe cavity 13 between the upper wall 27 of said cavity and a straight edge 28 of the segmental plate 12. A filling plate 29 is alsojpositioned in the cavity, theupper edge 30 of'said filing 'plate being substantially aligned with the straight edge 28 of the locking plate 12, to form the lower wall of the coin slot 26. rl`he rear wallof theoavit-y 13 is `rovided by a bar 31, which is pivoted at 32 Between the'partitions 14 a'nd`15, and has its lower edge 33 bevelled in a plane coincident with an singularly disposed coin discharge edge 34 of the filling plate 29. Y f f A second cavity 35 is formed in the box 1 adjacent the previouslyv mentioned cavity 13, and in which is mounted an operating lever 36 which extends through a slot 37 to ther front face of the box 1 and is provided with a finger pad`38 adjacent thereto. The lever 36`i's pivoted on a pin 39 which extends between and is secured in the partition 15 and the end wall 40 of the box 1.rv A second lever 41 is mounted in the cavity 35 above the Vlever36, and is connected thereto by means ot liiks42pivoted at its respective ends to the levers 36 and 41. The lever 41 is pivoted on a" pin 42 extending between and secured to the partition 15 and end wall 40. A'spring 43 has one of its ends attached to the lever 36 and its opposite end secured to a pin 44 extending between the partition 15 and the end wall 40, which-tends to normally maintain the lever 36' in a raised position and in engagement with the upper end of the slot 37. The lever 41 is provided witha laterally extending lug 45 'which projects through a slot 4G formed inthepartition 15. s The upper wall 27 of the coin slot-26 reeessd rat 47 inlorder that the lower side'48fof the lug 45 will lie in a plane coincident with the 'plane ofthe upper wall 27 of the coin slot '26. rA's shown in Fig. "3, the coin slot 26 is formed at an angler relative to the horizontal, to p'r'ovidean inclined 'run' for the ycoin a1, to insure thecoin, after insertion in the slot 2650i passing to the'rcarrof the said'coin slot andjengging the bar/531,.

f As shown in Fig'. 4,'the partition' 5 is provided with an" (ipeni'g' 50 :through which the spring latclrlOiproj'ects, and a second slot or dpenin'g 51 through which a yjl'at spring 52 projects. *The spring 52 has lone end secured tothe bottom walllofthe box1.`theopp'osite end offthespring 'being provided `with a curved portion 53 which engages the rear face of the door 2 for purposes hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. 9, a series of boxes 1 are suitably secured together to 'form a bank. Extending longitudinally of each tier of boxes 1 is a locking bar 55 which is slidably mounted in a guide channel member 56 secured to the rear Walls of the boxes 1. The locking bars normally overlap the lower end of each of the bars 31,. as shown in Fig. 3, and prevent the said Ybars from being swung on their pivots to release any coins which have been inserted in their respective boxes 1. 1

The bars 55 are provided with notch'es 57 which are adapted to be aligned with the bars 31 when the locking bars 55 are moved longitudinally with respect to the guide channel 56, which are also provided with notches 58 in alignment with the bars 31. Each of the bars 55 is provided adjacent one Vof'itsfends with a notch 59 having a vertical wall adapted to be engaged by the vertical Wall of a locking lug 60 which extends laterally from a bar 61. The bar 61 isslidably mounted in a guide channel 62 and is adapted to'be moved vertically relative thereto, to release the bars 55 in order that they may be moved longitudinally. Adjacent its lower end thevertical bar 61 is provided with an eye 63' which extends through ka slot 64 in the guide'channel 62. An ordinary hasp leaf 65 is pivoted tothe bank of the boxes 1`adjacent the lower end of the vertical bar 61,7and isipro'vided with the usual slot through whieh'thc eye'i63 projects. The shackle of a padlock 66 passes through the eye 63 in the usual manner thereby maintaining the hasp in'position o'n-the eye) 63, which in turn prevents vertical movement of the bar 61.

In operation, assuming that the various boxes 1 have been serviced Yby an authorized attendant, a coin may be inserted in any of the ycoin slots 26. The coin will pass down the incline face 2830, of the segmental locking plate 12 and the fillingv plate 29 respectively, to the position illustrated inull lines in Fig. 3, adjacent the' coin delivery bar 31. A

By applying pressure to the upperface'of the finger pad 38, the lever 36 will be turned on its pivot 39' and through the links 42 will turn the lever 41 on itspivot 42, causing the under surface 48 of the laterally extending lug v45 to engage the-top edge of the coin az. Continued pressure on thelpad 38 will cause the coin w to be moved downwardly in a path parallel to the bar 31, thereby turning the segmental locking plate 12'on its pivot 16,

the same being moved from its full line positionin Fig. 3 to the position illustrated in broken lines in said figurethe coin a; passing vdownward to the position illustratedin b roken lines in said `figure, resting uponthe 'inclined surface34 ofthe filling plate 29 and l `between the inneredge ofthe barfl. and :the

straightk edge 28 offltlie segmental: looking 5 ptate v12. Thus it will. be seen. that the yooin y saidfigure.

in this position maintains the looking plate 12in such a `position that. additional .soins-.cannot be inserted Within-the `.coin

J lVfhen Vthe pressureA is. relieved from the "finger pad 38, the'levers 367and41 Will be returned toitheinnormal inoperative positions byr-the' springV 43, "The lov'ver edgelof the islet 46 is position'edjin suchfafmanner, relative tothe upperedge 28 of the segmental lfookingplate12, that the said plate can: only be opera-ted When ia lcolin Vis placed in' the Vcoin slot26. *i 4 y A'sthe segnientallp'l-ate 12 is rotated from its' rfull line position shown inLFigL/S toits broken Yline 'position in vsaid figure', the fin*- Vte'gral,laterally extending flange 11 of said 'plate islikewiseV rotated, as the opening l19j-in'saidflangepasses the spring latch 10 oft-he door 2 theiiat spring 52'causes the ydoor to'be swung on its pivots and' the shoulder 1 9 4ofthe said spring latch to pass outward,

through they opening 19 'in the looking flange r11. 'The' door 2 is'A now open', and the-card 4f is exposed in such'a mannerthat a suitable inessagepmay beurittenthereon. 'If-desired,

pencil-Y may bef placed in the box 1,' asillustrated in Fig. t, for theconvenience of the person writing the message. u

Upon' completion ofthe message, the ydoor is Vclosedand the ,shoulder 950i vthe spring latch 10 Aassmues a Aposition vto the rear of the lflange it-hereby locking: the door 2 which cannot be reopened until lsuch time asthe'coin is removed from the Ibox 1. 'Such removal is eifeotedby anja-uthorized attendant at' a convenient time during lthe day or night. By

unlocking the padlock 66, the shackle thereof may be lremovedfromtheeye 63" and the hasp leaf 65 subsequently removed from the eye 63 Which will permit'of the bar 61 being moved vertically in the guide 62, thek loeking lugs 60 thereby'being` moved out vof the notches59 ,of the horizontally extending ybars 55. The bars fmaythen" be moved longitudinally until the notches 57 thereof are alignedvvithk the coin release bars 31, and the notches 58 formed in the guide channels 56. The bars 31 may then lbe swung on their pivotsj32 and the coinv mremovedl from the box 1. The spring l2,2.ivill .then turn'the looking'plate 12 on its `pivotl fromthe position shown in broken lines that illustrated full ,lines in in'iFigx As the opening 19in the locking ange 11 ofsaid plate yagainpasses the shoulder 9 of the springlatoh the spring52 Will-move the ydoor-*2 to its open position. After the coins' have been removedV and the several bars '55 restored to ftheir flocking positions. as showninf'l5`ig .y -8,-the'bar 61 flowered until the i lugs (iO'thereof again engage the notches 59 of the bars 55 and the hasp and padlock are restored to their locking positions, the attendant vvill removeV the cards t upon Which messages had been Written and replace them with fresh cards, after Which hevvfill close A each kof the doors 2. Theservicing of the bank of messagedisplay devices is then oomplete and: they are sages. f y

`From the above description, it Will be obvious that I provide a. device by which individuals may display messages addressed to `ready to :receive new mesother individuals in such publie places as the generalpublic are in the habit of using as the designated pointsof meeting in making ap- ,g

pointments, ythus ai-oiding the -f necessity of one person being inconvenieneed by having to wait after theV appointed time for persons who are tardy in keeping appointments. Crowding and confusion can' thus be-avoided in such places as theatre lobbies. Thevperson first arriving, if an appointment has been runder-lith a second party, may, by employing my device. deposit the theatrek seat check vfor the second party at the box oiiice of the theatre land display a message for the said secondv par-ty statingV the cond`1tion, thus crowding and confusion in the theatre lobby may be avoided.

VJhiie I have shown one method and appara-tus for eiecting the object desired, I do not intend that such illustration' may 'be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as various modifications may be made in the device Without-departing Afrom'tlie essential spirit of the invention, that of the display of messages in public places by one individual addressed to another individual. l, therefore, desirethat only such' limitations beV to the genera-l plane ofsaid locking element;

a springV latch oirsaid" moyahle ele ylent' engagingisaid lateral `rfla'i'igegfa st hf. sido formedv sajid loclingielementgfa" oinsl'ot yformed .in said easingV "between "the `said straight side of said locking element and'v one Wall of said casing;l `and*o,e'rzit'ing mechanism for ksaid locking element adapted to en- A gage acoin inserted in said' slot. v

2. inessage 'displaying device Comprising a casing, enf element in saidA Casing adapted to receive the message to bey displayed-; a transparent 1 movable element in L ISU said casing providing access to said message receiving element, and through which the messagel receiving element may be viewed; a rotatable locking element; a lateral flange n andextending substantially perpendicular to the general plane of said loc-king clement;

' a spring latch on said movable element engaging said-lateral flange; a straight side formed on said locking element; a coin slot formed in said casing between the said straight side of said locking element and one message receiving element may be viewed;

a rotatable locking element; a lateral flange on and extending substantially perpendicular t0 the general plane of said locking element; a spring latch on said movable elementy engaging said lateral-flange; a latch release opening formed in said lateral flange intermediate its ends; a straight sideformed on said locking-element; a coin slot formed in said casing'between the said straight side of said locking element and one wall of said casing; and operating mechanism for said locking element adapted to engage a coin inserted in said slot at one side of the center of rotation of said locking element, whereby the said locking element is adapted to r0- tate to releasesaid movable element and to seal said coin slot.

4. A message displaying device comprismg a casing, an element in said casing adapted to receive the message to be displa ed; a' transparent movable element in sai casing providing access to said message reeelvmg element, and through which the messa ey receiving element may be viewed; a rotata le locking element; a lateral flange on said lockin element; a spring latch on said movable e ementr engaging said lateral ange; a latch release opening formed in said lateral flange intermediate its ends; a straight side formedon said locking element; a coin slot formed in said Casin between the said straight side of said loc ing element and one wall of said casing; and operating mechanism for said locking element adapted to engage a coin inserted in said slot at one side of the center of rotation of said locking element, whereby the said locking element is adapted to rotate to release said movable element and to seal said coin slot; and means for forcing said latch eral plane of sai throu h saidvrelea'se opening, when the locking e ement is rotated.

5. A message displaying device comprising a casing; a transparent door' hinged to said casing; a partition in said casing parallel to said door; a message card between saiddoor and said partition; a rotatable locking element in said casing; 'a lateral flange'on said locking element; a spring latchon said door engaging said flange;l a latch release opening insaid flange; operating mechanism for saidrotatable locking member; and a slot formed between said locki element and its operatingl mechanism or the reception of an intermediate connecting element.

6. A message displaying device comprisinga casing; a transparent door hinged said casing; a lrotatable locking element 1n said casing; a lateral flange on and extending substantiallyV perpendicular to the general plane of said locking element .having an vopening intermediate itsends; a spring latchon said door adapted to engage said flange at one side of said opening; operating mechanism for said rotatable locking ielement; a coin slot formed in said casing andadapted to guide a coin between sai rotatable locking element and the operating mechanism therefor, wherebyisaid locking element may be rotated relative to said spring latch (permitting the said latch to pass through sai flangev opening to release the door, and to bring the portion of the flange .atthevop osite side of said opening into position to e engaged by the spring latch to relockV said door when the door is again closed, said lrotatable locking element functioning as a means to completely close said coin slot against the insertion of means designed to unlock the door while the operating coin remains in the device, for the protection of the message contained Lin the dev1ce.

7. A message displaying device comprising 'a casing; a transparent door hinged to sald casing; a rotatable locking element in said casing; a lateral flange onand extending substantially erpendicular to the gend) locking element having an opening intermediate its ends; a spring latch on said door adapted to engage said flange at one side of said openin operating mechanism for said rotatabe locking element; acoin slot formed in said casing and adapted to guide a coin between said rotatable locking element and the operating mechanism therefor, whereby said locking element may be rotatedy relative to said spring latch permitting the said latch to pass through said flange opening to release the door, and to bring the portion of the flange at the opposite side of said opening into position to be engaged by the vspring latch to relock said door ywhen the door is again Closed, said rotatable locking element kfunctioning asy a means to completely close said coin slot against the insertion of means designed to unlocky the door While the operating Coin remains'in the device, for the proteetion of the message contained in the device; means for permitting the removal of the operating coin from the casing; and

means kfor returning the rotatable locking element to its normal position when the operating coin is removed, whereby the door is automatically opened to permit removal of the message contained in they device.

GEORGE F. ZEALAND. or 

